Baron Hill says he supports some tax cut extensions in telephone town hall

Jul. 26, 2010

U.S. Rep. Baron Hill (AP Photo, file) / /AP

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INDIANAPOLIS — U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th District, told constituents in a telephone town hall meeting on Monday he plans to support the extension of Bush-era income tax cuts for those earning less than $250,000.

But Hill — speaking to more than 300 people in a sort of conference call — said that tax cuts for the “very wealthy” should expire.

“There's a possibility we may vote to extend those cuts this week even,” Hill said. “I am in favor of extending most of those tax cuts and will vote to do that.”

The call covered more than a dozen topics and gave 20 people the chance to ask questions about taxes, health care, energy, foreign affairs and other issues.

Hill said that's roughly the number of constituents who get to speak at more traditional, in-person constituent forums. But he urged those whose questions were unanswered to remain on the line and leave him a voice mail.

“It's only by hearing directly from you that I am best able to represent you in Congress,” Hill said.

Hill's GOP opponent, Todd Young, said on Monday that voters need to see their representatives in person. He challenged Hill to join him “in seven face-to-face appearances with voters throughout the district” before the November election.

“It's important for us to meet with Hoosiers where they live so they can hear our views, and even more importantly, so that we can listen to their views and take their questions,” Young said in a statement.

Hill's campaign did not accept Young's proposal, but said Hill will be accessible to voters, particularly during the August Congressional recess when the Democrat plans to begin walking door-to-door in every county in the district.

Hill's campaign spokesman, Daniel Altman, said Hill also “believes debates are an important part of the democratic process.”

“Baron looks forward to debating both (Libertarian) Greg Knott and Todd Young and the campaign is in the process of scheduling debates,” Altman said.

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On Monday, Hill said he used the telephone town hall technology, which is increasingly popular on Capitol Hill, so more people could talk with him from the comfort of their homes.

The call got off to a slow start, though, when Hill was a few minutes late because he was casting floor votes. Then it was an awkward several minutes as Hill waited for his staff to finish talking with those who wanted to ask questions before putting them through to the call.

At one point, a frustrated Hill said: “Let's put them on and they can ask their question directly to me.”

Minutes later, the first participants were plugged through, and it was obvious the screening didn't eliminate tough questions.

Debbie from Jeffersonville asked why Hill supported a cap-and-trade energy legislation that she dislikes and has been criticized by Republicans as a job killer.

Hill told her he had opposed the original legislation, which he said would have raised electric rates in Southern Indiana. But Hill said he's confident that changes he helped push have made it acceptable, and so he voted for it.

“We've got to get serious about becoming energy independent and making sure our air is clean,” Hill said. “This bill did that in a way that was acceptable to me as a member representing Southern Indiana. “

He then faced questions about the growing national deficit, the federal health care law he supported and his vote against extending unemployment benefits.

Hill told constituents he has no regrets about voting for the health care law, and criticized those whom he said are trying to scare people about its effects.

And Hill maintained that it will eventually lower the deficit, despite amended Congressional Budget Office estimates that critics say prove the opposite.

He told constituents that he pushed pay-as-you-go legislation into law, which will require Congress — in most cases — to pay for any new spending proposed, either with tax hikes or program cuts in other areas.

Hill said he voted against the extension of unemployment benefits precisely because the bill required the federal government to borrow $30 billion to pay for them.

“I strongly believe we needed to extend the unemployment benefits. People are hurting out there,” Hill said. “I would have happily voted for unemployment benefits if we would've found a way to pay for it … It's just driving up the deficit.”